I saw a man in uniform standing rather proud.
Within his hand he held a letter
from which he read out loud.
A letter from a friend,
written to his wife
Before a coming battle
Where he may lose his life.
He wrote to her his fears
And said he will be strong
To speak of those who fear as cowards
He stated was simply wrong.
“I choose to fight through it”
Were the words that he spoke.
For a country of great promise
In that at least I hope.
The enemy knows we are coming
And they are ready to fight.
Each side committed to their view
Of what they believe is right.
The sounds of men screaming
May be the last thing that I hear.
But through this fight is found courage
Suppressing all my fear.
The young and older besides me
Each person dealing with what comes next.
I can only hope my country
Keeps our fight in proper context.
We are not senators, or a congressman
Or even the President.
We are simply fighting servicemen
Fighting the fight for which were sent.
Protest your views to the congress
Support each serviceman as your own
For next we fight this battle
None should die alone.
In battle some must die
While others shall remain.
But through each battle with death,
No serviceman is ever the same.
This proud man in uniform
Kept reading while standing tall.
At the end letter he read the names of fallen
Each and everyone of them all.
The author of this letter are many
Each with a similar story
The day they ran into battle
And transitioned into glory.
This wife became a widow
A family lost a member
This is more than another day off
Do any of you remember?
No eyes was left not weeping,
As we all stopped and remained still.
Pledging to remember the fallen
And praying that we always will.
This serviceman rose his head in conclusion
These final words loudly he did say.
This is more than another day off,
It’s the remembrance and their death day.
So as you eat your food
And drink the drinks you choose.
Hug the veteran who returned home...
But honor those who we did lose.
Isaac Costley
